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Environmental Screening Of Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel Improvement Project, Avenue 54 to Thermal Drop Structure Draft Environmental Impact Report / State Clearinghouse No. 2015111067 Appendices APPENDIX C Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel Improvement Project, Phase I Biological Resources Assessment & Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan Compliance Report City of Coachella and Unincorporated Community of Thermal Submitted to: Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. 42635 Melanie Place, Suite 101 Palm Desert, CA 92211 Submitted by: Amec Foster Wheeler, Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. 3120 Chicago Avenue, Suite 110 Riverside, CA 92507 3 February 2016 Coachella Valley Water District C-1 Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel Improvement Project, Phase I Biological Resources Assessment & Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan Compliance Report City of Coachella and Unincorporated Community of Thermal Riverside County, California Submitted to: Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc. 42635 Melanie Place, Suite 101 Palm Desert, CA 92211 Contact: John Criste (760) 341-4800 [email protected] Submitted by: Amec Foster Wheeler, Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. 3120 Chicago Avenue, Suite 110 Riverside, CA 92507 Contact: John F. Green Senior Biologist (951) 369-8060 [email protected] 3 February 2016 Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel Improvement Project, Phase I Biological Resources Assessment & MSHCP Compliance Report February 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For the purposes of this assessment, analysis of the proposed Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel (CVSC) Improvement Project, Phase I (project) could include the following: Extension of existing and construction of new concrete-lined channel/levee banks, a fully concrete-lined channel from Airport Boulevard to the Thermal Drop Structure near Avenue 58, and construction of a bypass channel or combinations thereto. Modification of the existing channel cross-section and Thermal Drop Structure. Improvement of the levees (construct above-grade concrete barriers) upstream of Airport Boulevard to the vicinity of Avenue 54. Future modification to the northernmost railroad bridge may be required. The project is located both within the city limits of Coachella and unincorporated lands in the community of Thermal, Riverside County, California. The approximately 262 acre Project Planning Area/Area of Potential Effect (PPA/APE) is approximately two miles long in and adjacent to the CVSC. The PPE/APE extends from immediately north of Avenue 54 downstream (south) to north of Avenue 58 in Thermal. The existing CVSC is bounded by earthen flood control levees, although concrete wall reinforcement is present in the northern PPA/APE and near bridges. Land outside the CVSC, but in and surrounding the PPA/APE is a patchwork of commercial buildings and single-family rural residential dwellings, agriculture, and natural lands (undeveloped, some of which have been previously disturbed). Information contained herein is intended to be used for compliance with state and federal regulations intended to protect waters and special status species and their habitats. This includes the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP), the boundaries of which the PPA/APE is within. In preparation for the field visits, a literature review was conducted to identify special-status biological resources known from the vicinity of the PPA/APE. The literature review included the following documents: California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) RareFind 5 California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants of California The CVMSHCP documents United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Web Soil Survey United States Geological Survey 7.5’ Indio, Mecca, Valerie, and Thermal Canyon, Calif. quadrangles Two field assessment visits were conducted, including a focused burrow survey for burrowing owls. PPA/APE suitable habitat was assessed based on the presence or absence of habitat components (e.g., soils, vegetation and topography) characteristic of the potentially occurring special-status biological resources determined by the literature review. Pedestrian transects were walked over the entire PPA/APE where accessible. All flora and fauna observed or otherwise detected (e.g., dead remains [primarily plants], vocalizations, presence of scat, tracks, i Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel Improvement Project, Phase I Biological Resources Assessment & MSHCP Compliance Report February 2016 and/or bones) during the course of this assessment were recorded in field notes and included in Appendices 1 and 2. Topography, soils, and vegetation (natural communities) were mapped. The literature review and biological resources assessment resulted in the identification of 50 special-status species which were observed in the PPA/APE, had CNDDB records within an approximate five mile radius of the PPA/APE, and/or which had habitat, including CVMSHCP modeled habitat, in the PPA/APE. These included 14 plants, two invertebrates, two fishes, one amphibian, two reptiles, 22 birds, and seven mammals. Of the 50 sensitive elements identified by the literature review to occur in the PPA/APE vicinity (see Tables 2-8 above), 18 were determined to be absent from the PPA/APE, including all of the plant species, the cheeseweed owlfly, the razorback sucker, Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, and the Colorado Valley woodrat. Since they are not expected to occur within the PPA/APE or be impacted, those 18 species will not be discussed further. Of the remaining 32 species, seven are fully covered and conserved by the CVMSHCP: desert pupfish, flat-tailed horned lizard, southwestern willow flycatcher, least Bell’s vireo, western yellow bat, Palm Springs pocket mouse, and Coachella Valley (Palm Springs) round-tailed ground squirrel. Since potential impacts to these seven species will be mitigated through project participation in the CVMSHCP as a covered activity, they will not be discussed further. The monarch, a butterfly, is not covered by the CVMSHCP. It is ranked S2S3 by the state (imperiled - vulnerable), but has no other state or federal status. The species is considered special-status primarily because of its wintering roosts along the coast. A single butterfly was seen foraging in the PPA/APE. We are not recommending any further action in regard to this species, as the PPA/APE is not coastal and does not contain any known monarch roost sites The Couch’s spadefoot is not covered by the CVMSHCP. It is considered a species of special concern by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and is ranked S2 by the state (imperiled), but has no other state or federal status. It may occur in temporary rain pools, and flooded date palm orchards may also provide breeding habitat and refugia. There is only one known local record, five miles to the southeast, and limited potential habitat in the PPA/APE. Amec Foster Wheeler recommends that substantial temporary pools and orchards be avoided or surveyed for this species and its’ larvae prior to disturbance to avoid impacts to breeding spadefoots. This does not include the channel itself. Three additional species of bats were found to have records in the PPA/APE vicinity: Townsend’s big-eared bat, spotted bat, and western mastiff bat. One of these, the spotted bat, only has foraging potential in the PPA/APE. Although implementation of the proposed project may represent an incremental loss of potential spotted bat foraging habitat, it is not expected to have a significant impact on the species or to result in its take. We are not recommending any further action on behalf of the spotted bat. The Townsend’s big-eared bat could roost on the walls and ceilings of bridges, culverts, and other structures in the PPA/APE, but is most often associated with caves or mines. Human disturbance is frequent in the PPA/APE, and may be a limiting factor for this species. The western mastiff bat prefers roosts in high places such as cliff crevices, but could use trees or structures in the PPA/APE. Both species may forage in the PPA/APE. Take of these or other roosting bat species may be considered significant. Although no bats were seen during the biological resource assessment, suitable roosting habitat was seen. ii Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel Improvement Project, Phase I Biological Resources Assessment & MSHCP Compliance Report February 2016 Focused surveys may be required to ensure that bats are not present so that they are not harmed or disturbed by construction activities. The California black rail and Yuma Ridgway’s (clapper) rail are covered species under the CVMSHCP, but because they are both California Fully Protected species, no take is allowed. Also, because the California black rail is not federally listed, take of that species is also prohibited under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). For both species, the CVMSHCP states: “Surveys will be required in potential Habitat for this rail before any activity that would impact the Habitat. If rails are found, the Habitat must be avoided or measures approved by The Wildlife Agencies taken to ensure that no take of an individual occurs.” Potential habitat is present in the CVSC and these species have been recorded in the area. Surveys for these species are conducted between March 15th and May 31st. If either species was found to be present, consultation with the wildlife agencies would be required prior to any impacts to habitat.
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